This article focuses on food contact safe paints that can be used on residential household items like tabletops, serving trays (or boards), highchairs, countertops, and decorative bowls, with one product that can be use on plates and mugs (ceramics).
For these applications, we won’t find paints that are officially FDA tested. That is because most paints will meet food-safe requirements.
Most paints will not leach chemicals once they are fully cured. Water-based and solvent-based paints do not leach bisphenols (only epoxy paints leach bisphenols), phthalates (found in caulking but not in paints), or lead (the main ingredient that made some paints not safe for food contact in the past).
Does that mean any paint can be used on food contact surfaces? It depends on how you use the item, but I would say no!
We are going to go further at metal leaching to start. Lead is not the only metal of concern, many paints contain toxic metals today. We will check paints against a Toy Safe certification which checks for leaching of metals (as if you had ingested the paint accidentally).
I will also use the FDA’s list of approved ingredients to vet paints.
VOCs
The list of paints in this article gives priority to brands that are very low or zero-VOC. However, if you have used a solvent-based paint that has fully cured, that can be safe too, it just takes longer to cure, and is not non-toxic for some time.
Real Use Case
Whether a paint is food-safe really depends on how you are using it. Most of the products here are for objects like tables and trays, where you might place some foods or have some incidental contact.
These items will not be going into a dishwasher, the items are not bowls that you eat liquid food out of, and they are not items that go directly into your mouth. I personally would not use any paint on a cutting board, as no paint is suited to actual ingestion on a regular basis.
There is one paint that is for plates and bowels (and other ceramic items) that can be used and washed (but not in the dishwasher).
The article includes my 10 top brands of paints that I would use on food contact areas, from 100% natural options, to the healthiest of the acrylic paint brands, to some hardier more conventional options.
This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
There are three main regulations that we are going to use to determine if a paint or coating is food-grade or food-safe.
First, to clarify the terms, food-grade refers to the material, and food-safe refers to the product being safe in the actual conditions that the material is being used in.
The FDA states in 117.40 in Subpart B “Food-contact surfaces must be made of non-toxic materials and designed to withstand the environment of their intended use and the action of food, and, if applicable, cleaning compounds, sanitizing agents, and cleaning procedures.”
Regulations we will consider:
1. FDA Title 21, Section 175.300
Section 175.300 lists cleared ingredient materials for resinous and polymeric coatings. Paints can be tested by this regulation (extraction testing), certified by a third party, or the company can provide a signed letter of guarantee that it meets the requirements. Most paints unfortunately do not have these official documents. For those that don’t, we can use the list of approved ingredients in 175:300 to see if a product would likely fit within this regulation.
Paints used in the home, for tabletops, high chairs, and other consumer goods are not officially tested.
(We should note that this is not the only regulation for paint ingredient safety in the US, there can also be national, and state laws like California Prop 65 that apply to ingredients in coatings).
2. FDA Title 21, Section 174
Section 174 lists ingredients considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for their intended use. For example, Carnauba wax, an ingredient in many wax coatings, is GRAS and therefore is considered safe in coatings.
3. Toy Safe Standard EN 71:2019
This is a European standard, but there are a number of certified brands that sell their products in North America as well, so this turned out to be a useful regulation for the paints in this article.
This tests for the leaching of toxic elements such as aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, Chromium (III), Chromium (VI), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organic tin, and zinc.
This standard simulates the leaching of metals in the stomach as if the paint were ingested by a child.
There is no equivalent testing in North America, so it’s good we have some brands tested in Europe that are available in North America.
Paint Cure Times
The final thing we want to keep in mind before looking at the best brands to use is how long it takes to cure. The paint should be fully cured before we put it to use on food contact areas.
Water-based zero-VOC paints can take up to two weeks to cure to the point of not offgassing chemicals. Be sure to check the time frame based on when you can begin wiping down the paint or when the company says it’s food contact safe.
Solvent-based paints take longer for the solvents to flash off. At least a month is needed for those paints before you should put food on them. I can often pick up offgassing for more than a month off of solvent-based paints.
Food Grade/Food Contact Safe Paints
1. Milk Paint
Milk Paint, when it comes in powder form, is an all-natural, non-toxic wood finish labeled as food-safe.
You could use this on a table or on kids’ toys. To make it durable you need to add a (food-safe), sealant, oil, or wax.
The Real Milk Company does not use clay in the formula so there’s no risk of possible metal contamination there. The pigments are titanium dioxide (the white pigment in every paint), and iron oxides. The green does contain Chromium (III) which would probably not leave it Toy Safe by European standards (depending on real-life leachability and durability of the topcoat). The topcoat might provide enough protection, but their paints are not tested with or without topcoats.
Old Fashioned Milk Paint has tested its product against Toy Safe Standard EN-71 in Europe. Not all colors passed the metal leaching tests (whites and blues did not make the cut). The following colors are certified safe: Scarlett (red), Marigold yellow, Mustard, Pumpkin, Salem Red, Barn Red, Bayberry Green, Tavern Green, Lexington (dark green), and Pitch Black.
Food Safe Top Coats for Milk Paint
For toys, tables, trays, and wood countertops, you definitely want to use a (food-safe) sealer as a topcoat which will make it durable.
Tung oil is the most durable of the food-safe penetrating oils (just be sure to use the food-safe citrus solvent and give it the full 30 days to cure). On high wear surfaces, you may need to lightly re-coat every year (exterior) or two years (interior).
Hemp oil and walnut oil (also called Wood Wax) are not quite as waterproof but they are also food-safe, and they don’t require a solvent.
Toy Safe Certified topcoats include: AFM Safecoat Acriglaze (matte finish), AFM Naturals Oil-Wax, or for outdoor items, AFM Naturals Clear Penetrating Oil.
Use on: Ideal on bare wood, terra-cotta, concrete. Interior and exterior with the right topcoat.
Applications: Trays, tables, desks, highchairs, wooden countertops, concrete countertops, concrete and terra-cotta pots (more info on that here) and display bowls, planters (more info on that here), charcuterie boards, toys.
Buy The Real Milk Paint here, and Old Fashioned Milk Paint here. The topcoats are sold through the same websites.
2. Natural Linseed Oil Paint
Allbäck paints are made from food-safe linseed oil with a manganese drier. Manganese is allowed in food contact coatings by the FDA but not by Toy Safe regulations in Europe. (i.e. this would probably pass FDA testing but not Toy Safe Testing).
The Allbäck Linseed Oil Paint is very durable and so it would work well on tabletops and other high-wear areas. The paint remains somewhat flexible, so it doesn’t dry hard like an enamel. It leaves a flat look.
The Viking and Ottosson paint brands use a natural drier, but the company didn’t say that it is definitely manganese. You would ideally want to know which metal/mineral is used as the drier.
Pigments like Chromium in some brands would also not leave this Toy Safe.
Use on: Virtually any surface that is clean and dry other than silicone. You can use it on wood, concrete, sheet metal, iron, and plastic. Interior and exterior surfaces.
Applications: Wood, metal, or melamine trays; wood, metal, or melamine furniture, including tabletops and highchairs; wood, concrete or laminate countertops; cake stands (if you don’t cut on the stand); toys and play-sets other than toys that will go in a child’s mouth; the exterior of mason jars and lids; the exterior of metal food storage containers; terra-cotta pots (more info on that here), and exterior planter boxes (more info on that here).
Buy through their website.
3. AFM Safecoat Paints and Primers – Low-VOC Acrylic
AFM MetalCoat is a primer for metal. It can be followed by any of the AFM paints.
They aren’t officially FDA-approved via testing as food-safe, but once it’s fully cured and if it doesn’t go into a dishwasher, it is considered to be safe based on their ingredients.
This paint is low-VOC and can be used on interior and exterior bare metal. It can be used on galvanized steel, aluminum, and any non-ferrous metal.
For abrasion resistance on outdoor tables, a paint and sealer combo would work well: AFM Safecoat All Purpose Exterior Satin and then AFM Safecoat EXT Exterior Polyureseal.
AFM Transitional Primer is used if you are painting over an oil-based paint.
Use on: MetalCoat for bare metal. All Purpose for wood or previously painted surfaces. EXT as a clear sealer over water-based paint. Interior and exterior surfaces.
Applications: MetalCoat for: metal food storage containers, display bowls, mason jar lids, bare metal playsets. All Purpose Paint + EXT for tabletops.
Buy AFM primers and paints through Green Design Center/Building for Health.
4. ECOS Paint – 0-VOC Acrylic
A water-based zero-VOC paint that is non-toxic once it dries and can be used on tables and toys.
ECOS Paints is a zero-VOC acrylic (latex) paint, it is considered defacto food-safe, though they are not FDA approved since they haven’t undergone the testing.
But they are EN-71 Certified (Europe) for use on children’s toys, which could be placed in a child’s mouth.
Acrylic Latex paint in a semigloss or gloss sheen is a good choice for tabletops and other furniture. Both are easy to wipe clean with soap and water and, once cured, are safe to eat on.
They also make primers, including a primer for previously painted metal, and exterior applications.
Use on: Wood, surfaces previously painted with water-based paint. Interior and exterior surfaces.
Applications: Tables, desks, high chairs, cribs, serving trays, toys, play equipment/playsets.
Buy ECOS Paints through their website.
5. Chalk Paint + Clear Lacquer
Chalk Paint is a super low-odor non-toxic paint that adheres to almost every surface. The paint itself is certified Toy Safe (EN-71-3) but it needs a topcoat to be durable.
If you are painting a dining table, highchair, or other furniture piece, (and for most toys as well) you can add a clear Chalk Paint Lacquer to make it super durable. This is a water-based polyacrylic clear coat that is certified Toy Safe (EN 71-3:2013) and is safe to use on toys and furniture like dining tables. Both the Matte and Gloss finishes are durable. It goes on perfectly clear and dries quickly without yellowing over time.
Use on: Chalk Paint sticks to wood, metal, glass, ceramics, most plastics, cardboard, terra-cotta, concrete, shellac, and previously painted materials (with water or oil-based paint). Interior projects.
Applications: Glass jars and vases (like mason jars), metal storage containers, display bowls, tables, desks, melamine furniture, high chairs, cribs, toys, serving trays (metal, plastic, wood, or melamine), playsets.
In North America, you want to look for individual stockists of Chalk Paint.
6. Farrow and Ball
Farrow & Ball‘s super-low odor 100% water-based paint meets Toy Safety Standards. Their Estate Emulsion, Estate Eggshell, Modern Emulsion, Modern Eggshell, Exterior Eggshell, and Full Gloss have been independently tested and approved to meet the Toy Paint Regulations.
Not all of their paint sheens would be durable enough for furniture. They recommend Modern Eggshell (40% sheen) for most furniture pieces, like dressers and cribs, tabletops, serving trays, and high chairs. It is tough, washable & wipeable.
Use on: With the proper primer, you can use Farrow and Ball products on new wood, previously painted wood, ferrous and non-ferrous metal (except cast iron). They have interior and exterior paints.
Applications: Cribs, dressers, tables, serving trays, high chairs, wooden or previously painted toys.
Buy through their website.
7. Rustoleum 8400 Food & Beverage Alkyd Paint
This interior enamel paint is suitable for use in food and beverage applications due to its washability. Enamel (alkyd) paints are far more durable than latex paints. Technically, it’s only for incidental food contact.
The 8400 Food and Beverage System complies with USDA FSIS regulatory sanitation performance standards for food establishment facilities.
This is a little different than the FDA Title 21 which looks at ingredients in the paint that come in direct contact with food. The USDA looks at clean-ability ensuring “the floors, walls and ceilings… (are) smooth and easily cleanable” so they won’t collect bacteria, and that ceiling coatings are intact. USDA compliant systems must hold up to the intended use in a specific process area. (source)
Because this is a durable enamel coating it can meet those regulations.
There is a Prop 65 Warning on it, however.
This is rather high in VOCs at <450g/L. It’s a solvent-based paint, so that will be very smelly at first and certainly takes some time to fully offgas. The main solvent is petroleum. I normally would not recommend solvent-based paints on my blog but I’m mentioning this one because it meets USDA regulations.
Use on: Metal, wood.
Applications: Equipment, structural steel, pipes, metal cabinets and lockers, railings, trim, doors and gates, vents, and more, incidental food contact applications – like a tray, or cake stand that is not used to put baked goods on directly.
This paint only comes in white and yellow. But the 2500 series is similar and comes in more colors.
Buy through Amazon, Grainger, and Menards.
Other Enamal (Alkyd) Paints: Benjamin Moore has said that their ADVANCE is not food safe.
8. Rustoleum Painter’s Touch (Brush on)
A water-based paint for both interior and exterior projects, Painter’s Choice brush-on paint is Certified Toy Safe (EN71-3: 2019, Europe).
The following colors are not certified toy safe: Gold, Antique Gold, Bronze, and Old Penny Bronze. (Also the metallics are solvent-based, oil paint).
It’s called Painter’s Touch Multipurpose Paint in the UK and Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover in the US.
This paint is not low in VOCs at <250 g/l for the water-based version. (The solvents are water and glycol ethers). The data sheets describe the odor as solvent-like. The company recommends a full cure time of one week for toys. Based on my testing of the spray paint version, I would say give it at least two weeks to cure. Even at one month, I could pick up slight offgassing.
This is not a paint I would normally use or recommend since I would not consider this low-toxin or non-toxic, but once it has sufficient time to cure I would consider it totally safe for everyday use.
Use on: Wood, metal, plaster, masonry, and unglazed ceramic.
Applications: Toys and children’s furniture, tabletops, crafts, vases, baskets, incidental food contact applications like a serving tray or cake stand that does not have direct contact with the food.
Buy through Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot.
Other Metallic Paints: I don’t think any metallic paint can meet Toy Safe (and therefore food safe in my opinion) standards because of the metals needed to make the colors. If the tray or cake stand is used only for display without direct contact between the food and surface, then you may try adding a clear coat over a metallic paint like Rustoleum Stops Rust, which is a solvent-based acrylic that can be top-coated in a water-based polyurethane.
9. Fakolith Paint
Fakolith is a European company that makes food-grade paints and varnishes that are tested and certified for direct, indirect, and occasional contact with food, beverages, and drinking water, according to European regulation EU 10/2011, and/or American regulation FDA 21 CFR 175.300.
They make various products including clear sealants, acrylic enamel paints, and a food-grade epoxy paint.
Applications: Protecting surfaces such as food and beverage silos, tanks, pipes, fish farms, transport elements, printed food packaging, shells and barks, as well as walls, ceilings, flooring, sandwich panel, cold stores, clean rooms, and installations and objects in general in all sectors of the food industry.
10. Paint for Ceramics
A Maker’s Studio makes a water-based paint for ceramics that you can use on dishes and mugs/cups. It’s microwave safe but not dishwasher safe. This is a no-bake formula that cures in 12-14 hours.
They say it’s food-safe but it’s not FDA certified (which is a certification I would want especially if used on the inside of dishes and mugs). I was curious if it was defacto food-safe based on the cleared ingredients in FDA Section 175.300, but they didn’t say that when I asked about the food-safe designation.
Use on: Glass, ceramics, porcelain, and china.
Applications: You can use this to decorate, plates, mugs etc, both inside and out.
Food Safe Spray Paint
I don’t know of any spray paints that are officially food contact safe.
Spray paints are also higher in VOCs than brush-on paints, even the best water-based spray paints use a solvent propellant. For solvent-based spray paints, most of them were still offgassing at one month’s time. My post on non-toxic spray paints goes over brands that are much safer that could be used on furniture.
Krylon said: “We don’t manufacture a product that is FDA approved [to be food-safe]. An FDA approval is important in terms of whether a product film is safe for incidental ingestion. We do not perform animal testing and cannot test for ingestion. Therefore, we offer nothing that is guaranteed to be food safe if it is ingested or encounters someone’s mouth. Having said that, many of our customers apply our products on countertops. Just make sure to set or prepare food on a cutting board/trivet/food-safe surface.”
None of Rustoleum’s spray paints are food safe, they said in an email.
Related Posts:
Paints and Sealers for Planter Boxes
Paints and Sealers for Terra-Cotta Pots
Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.
Sources:
FDA Title 21, Section 175.300
Joseph says
Hi…
One thing I’ve learned is that not all paints are created equal when it comes to food safety. While most paints won’t leach harmful chemicals after being fully cured, it’s important to consider factors like the presence of toxic metals or VOCs in the paint.
Revan says
I have metal project that will come into regular but brief contact with food, that I will have to weld, and I’m very skeptical about the food safety of my welding wire. I’ve been searching and haven’t come across any article even approaching this one in terms of usefulness, and I was wondering if you had any specific suggestions for a coating to food-safe it; ideally I’d be looking for something in a spray can, but there’s nothing good enough, I *can* use a paint gun with something intended to be brushed on
Corinne says
There’s nothing in a spray paint can that is food safe that I know of. There is another another post on clear food safe sealers. Otherwise go with one of the paints here.
Lori Marie says
I have a white countertop fruit stand that I wish was black to better match my kitchen. Have you heard of companies that use food safe paint. It would hold citrus with a peel, but also apples. There’s got to be a way to get it painted and able to use to safely hold food. Thanks.
Corinne says
All the companies I could find that make food safe paint are on the list.
Patricia A Soukup says
I made a big boo boo and put my chrome plated beater in the dish washer. what can I cover it with so I can use. now it’s just galvanized metal. that would discolor food.
Corinne says
I don’t believe there is a DIY paint that can be used on appliances or pots and pans.
Sandra Bunch says
I’m looking to paint a metal food strainer used to strain pasta/vegies. It has been used to strain pebbles and rocks in my garden. Thank you for your very informative website!
Paulina C Kuntzelman says
i have old bakeware I inherited/ some have rust on them. I have cleaned most and dried and oiled them after every wash. Was wondering which paint I could use on these items that go in the oven and stop the rust. as well as refresh these. I would hate to throw them away as so much goes into the trash these days. I want know also if there is a paint that would be food grade for teflon coated pans. Please.
Doreen says
Hi Corinne,
I am making a Santa’s Christmas plates with Babies. My acrylic paint says non toxic. Once it’s cured in the oven is it ok to eat cookies from?
Thank you for your help.
Doreen
Corinne says
I haven’t looked at the paint options for ceramics yet.
Leon Stansfield says
I’m building a chicken feed box with small chick-feed inserts, so I can dump perhaps 50 to 75 lbs of chicken feed into the container at once, but I want it to be food safe. So I read the first part of your lengthy article and came upon the Old Fashioned Milk Paint. I called the nearest store (Eugene, OR) which is 150 miles from Grants Pass, OR, where we live. The man was friendly and helpful. I was able to order 2 packets of Marigold paint powder plus shipping, for just under $50, which should be enough to paint the box inside and out at least twice with this old-fashioned water based paint. I think this will be fully safe for the chicken feed once it is completely dry. I can dry the box in my wood-heated living/dining/kitchen area of our home. It is November, 2022. Thank you for solving a problem I had in finding a paint which I was satisfied will be safe for our 10 young chickens which are ready to begin laying eggs.
Corinne says
You can order milk paint online. It needs a durable sealer over top.
Tom M says
We have a wood cutting board with metal handles. The handles were originally coated with a metallic copper finish. Over time, the copper finish has worn off in places. I would like to recoat the handles with a copper coating to restore the original luster. What paint & sealant do you think would work for that?
Corinne says
I talk about metallic paints in the post. None are going to be food safe from what I know. But the handles on a cutting board don’t require a food safe finish.
Darin says
of all of these what would be the best sealer for ferrous steel? for use in a counter top
Corinne says
If you just want a sealant and not a paint, then Tung Oil
Paula m says
I’m thinking of painting aluminum pots for actual cooking. I’m
Not painting them
Inside but what can I seal
Them with that is food safe and heat resistant? Thank you so much!!
Candice says
Thank you so much for creating this post and sharing your expertise! It has been incredibly helpful for me as I search for a temporary solution for painting my countertops.
Brittany says
Do you know where to buy the fakolith finishes?
Corinne says
I don’t, they didn’t respond to my email
Sharpay says
Hi,
Thank you so much for this article very informative and helpful. I’m making a wooden board in which I will be displaying food on. Can I use low toxic paint such a behr and then seal it with a food safe sealant ? Would my board then be safe to eat off of ?
Chelsea says
Hi I’d like to know what paint I can use on a cake stand? Kind regards
Corinne says
If you are *not* cutting on the stand I would likely use linseed oil paint, but you don’t want to ingest that one for sure (like if you were cutting and causing the paint to flake and then ingest it). The most durable of all will definitely be an enamel paint. What are cake stands usually made of (metal?) and do people usually cut right on the non glass ones or is it more for display of baked goods?
Keshia says
I’m also looking to paint a cake stand, and your article is SO helpful. I’m looking to paint a wood stand gold colored. Any thoughts on what type of enamel? We will not be cutting on it, but I want to make sure the cupcakes are safe on the stand in case they for some reason do come in contact. I’m also nervous about there being some sort of paint smell that bleeds into the cupcakes. I’m planning on painting it months a head of time. What would you recommend?
Corinne says
Gold paint would not be considered food safe because of the metals from how I understand it. But it’s not in direct contact with the food so I would feel fine about it. You can use a Rustoleum with a polyurethane over it for extra protection. Solvent based paints would need at least a month to cure though, to my standards (I tested a Gold spray paint in the post called non toxic spray paints). You might also look at water-based acrylic Gold paints and also coat over with polyurethane to add more durability.
Kim says
Hi Corinne! Thank you so much for all the info on this site. I only wish I knew about these things 10 years ago when we built our home. I had no idea. So thank you.
Wondering your thoughts on repainting laminate countertops. Would any of these paints work for that application and be durable? Rustoleum has a countertop paint, but I don’t believe it’s safe. While I don’t have MCS, I am sensitive to chemical smells. I’m familiar with chalk paint and know it’s strengths and weaknesses. Not sure it’s a good candidate for a countertop surface.
Corinne says
If you don’t want to use a solvent-y paint then I would use the linseed option.
Liz says
Hello!
I’d like your advice…I have a cute little spoon rest, it’s already painted, over an iron surface, but it was a poor paint job, bought it online that way. I lightly sanded the flaws out & wish to apply a clear coat now. I only use it for coffee & tea spoons, after stirring, I get clean spoons out every morning, but that 1 spoon may be used by me & my sweetheart a few times in the morning before work. Anyway, the heat aspect isn’t too great from coffee stirred spoon, but there is some heat. I realize cleaning in the dishwasher isn’t a good idea anyway, so I handwash. Anyway…what clear coat, preferably spray can, would you recommend? A friend used Rustoleum color & top clear coats on her trivets she repainted, but spoons go into the mouth, hot pans don’t. Thanks in advance, appreciate it.
Corinne says
Tung Oil for transparent, linseed oil paint for paint.